Nadir may have reached his nadir with the news that he is being released from his Celtic contract a year early.
Nevertheless, Ciftci delivered the high point of the Jackie McNamara era at Dundee United and will never be forgotten by grateful fans for that reason.
The date was Saturday, April 12, 2014. The venue was a “neutral” Ibrox. The occasion was a Scottish Cup semi-final between the Tangerines and Rangers.
United’s supporters had made a valiant effort to turn the Light Blues’ home ground as tangerine as possible, with thousands packed behind the goal in the Broomloan Stand and thousands more filling sections of the Govan/Sandy Jardine Stand.
This was peak McNamara. The Tannadice manager’s team was brimful of talent including Andy Robertson, John Souttar, Ryan Gauld, Stuart Armstrong and Gary Mackay-Steven.
The Rangers side contained recent United signings Fraser Aird and Nicky Clark, as well as Bilel Mohsni and Jon Daly.
The one player who stole the show, however, was Ciftci.
Goals from Armstrong and Mackay-Steven gave the “visitors” the edge before Steven Smith’s freekick squeezed between keeper Rado Cierzniak and his post to let Rangers back into the match just before the break.
It would fall to the affable Turk to put clear blue water between the sides when, with just seven minutes remaining, he pounced after goalkeeper Steve Simonsen made a hash of a clearance.
Had Ciftci just got on with the job of scoring it wouldn’t have been such a memorable goal.
Rather, it was his celebration BEFORE he kicked the ball into the empty net – arms were spread and raised in triumph – that made it special for the Tannadice faithful and secured him a place in club folklore.
He then cupped his hand to his ear as if to taunt the silent Light Blues fans but all he would be able to hear was the roar of the United support, for whom he could do no wrong.
Where Ciftci goes when he leaves Celtic Park is anyone’s guess and his time with the Tangerines wasn’t always a bed of roses – the infamous bitegate episode involving victim Jim McAlister of Dundee certainly merits a mention.
Nevertheless, if he ever makes it back to Tannadice – even decades from now – he will get a warm welcome. He remains a hero.
